Why Start a Ketogenic Diet Plan?

Keto diets are all the rage at the moment, but numerous research studies and success stories show that this is more than just a passing fad. Something as simple as reducing the carbohydrates in your diet can have all kinds of incredible benefits, and as long as you’re happy to eat meat and dairy products it’s something most healthy adults are able to try. If you’re dabbling with the idea of embarking on a ketogenic diet plan, here’s some information that might give you the push you need to do so.

Drastically reduces hunger

Keto isn’t just a diet, it’s a lifestyle. And there’s a reason why eating like this is more than just a temporary diet, it genuinely is something you can keep up long term. The problem with most diets is you’re restricting calories, eating less food or less satisfying food meaning you’re constantly hungry. Most of us can deal with hunger for a while, and this is where people lose the weight. But it’s not sustainable forever, and can lead to overeating, binging and that horrible cycle of yo-yo dieting that most of us have experienced at one time or another. Keto on the other hand reduces hunger, this is because you’re not eating food that spikes your blood sugar. It’s after eating carbs that your blood sugar spikes, and when it begins to fall again there are signals sent to the brain telling you to eat again. Many people describe this as being on a rollercoaster, and it’s why the more sugar and rubbish you eat, the more you seem to want. Without these blood sugar spikes, your hunger is kept to a minimum- not to mention the foods you are able to eat are much more satisfying. Meat, full fat dairy, eggs and a limited amount of vegetables are all delicious while leaving you feeling genuinely full and satiated after eating.

Can stop or even reverse type two diabetes

Because your blood sugars are well under control on a ketogenic diet, it has been really helpful in both the prevention and management of type two diabetes. Type two diabetes is strongly correlated with higher weight, and so bringing that down will have a positive effect, on top of this you’re doing it in a way where you’re not eating sugars and carbs (which act like sugar in the body) so are protecting your body from damage. People assume eating all of that animal fat, meat and dairy isn’t healthy, but it has a surprising effect on the body. When you’re in ketosis (your body is adapted to burning its own fat as fuel) it burns off the fat in your diet for energy meaning it doesnt accumulate in the blood or the body. This is why people can follow keto for many years and actually improve their health.

It elevates mood

Almost everyone states that being on a ketogenic diet helps with their mood. There are a number of reasons as to why this is. First of all, you’re not dealing with constant brain fog or the ups and downs that sugar and carbs are having on your system. You’re not always hungry and thinking of food. The ketogenic diet is showing to be a useful tool in brain healing, having an anti-inflammatory effect in the brain, and potentially having long term effects in brain anatomy and function. This is fantastic news especially for those battling depression, and a keto diet is being prescribed by many healthcare professionals as a lifestyle change.

It can help with chronic pain

Speaking of brain inflammation, keto diets have been shown to reduce inflammation in general. A number of biochemical consequences of eating this way include decreased reactive oxygen species, decreased neural activity, increased adenosine and activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. In plain English, all of this suggests that a ketogenic diet will be effective in increasing baseline pain thresholds and reducing both inflammatory and neuropathic pain. There are many ways to deal with pain this day in age, from medical intervention like facet block injections to pain therapy to massage and herbal remedies. However, when a patient is able to do something for themselves it can give them an element of control over their pain and life, so a keto diet is something well worth trying if you’re a suffer.